Synopsis: The petition specified that as of December 14, 51 pilgrims and 248 staff at Sabarimala were tested positive for COVID-19.
The government of Kerala approached the Supreme Court challenging a Kerala High Court order that directed the state government to raise, from 2,000 to 5,000 per day, the permissible limit of worshippers at the temple of Sabarimala.
In its plea, the Government stated that the High Court’s directions violate the Revised Health Advisory released by the Government to contain COVID-19.
The petition states that a High-Level Committee was set up by the State Government to consider all aspects and to determine the number of pilgrims who may be allowed to visit the temple each day during the period of 20 December and 14 January (pilgrimage season), taking into account the situation of COVID-19.
The High-Level Committee headed by the State Government’s Chief Secretary considered the report submitted by the Health and Family Welfare Department’s Revised Health Advisory and increased the number of pilgrims per day to 2,000 on weekdays and 3,000 on weekends, respectively.
The petition argues that the revised Health Advisory submitted by the Principal Secretary of the Department of Health and Family Welfare on the Sabarimala Pilgrimage revealed that 51 pilgrims and 248 staff at Sabarimala were tested positive on 14 December. The Revised Health Advisory, taking into account this fact, was accepted by the High-Level Committee of the Government.
The Kerala High Court, however, increased the number of worshippers to be allowed inside the temple from 2,000 to 5,000 on December 18.
The government has argued that raising the number of permissible pilgrims would put the police personnel and health officials at Sabarimala under great strain.
The Supreme Court’s appeal also cites the discovery in England of the stronger mutant version of COVID-19 and has therefore prayed that the Kerala High Court order must be set aside to avoid the spread of coronavirus during the festival season of Sabarimala.
It has also been averred that the transport of pilgrims from the KSRTC Bus stand at Pamba to Sannidhanam is also an issue considering the protocol of Covid-19 that involves social distancing.